Giant non-fandom friending meme
Mar. 15th, 2010 12:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
livHere's the thing: a lot of people are about ready to leave LJ over the latest shenanigans. But they don't want to make the leap to Dreamwidth because, frankly, there isn't enough going on here. The site is smaller, so there are fewer posts, and fewer cool people to meet. And all their friends are on LJ, which is of course a self-perpetuating situation: if "everybody" is still on LJ, then there's a huge disincentive against moving, which means that everybody continues to be on LJ.
Lots of people have realized that the best way to address this issue is, well, creating content. Some people are organizing collective efforts to create more content. This is a great idea, except for one small problem: the people who are really good at organizing and creating content are mainly fandom. I have nothing at all against fandom, but I'm not really part of it, and I think that a lot of other people who feel similarly are being put off because they see DW as yet another clubhouse for the cool fandom kids.
But I am going to take a leaf from fandom's book: I'm going to cease sitting around complaining about how DW is too quiet. Instead I'm going to participate in creating content and drawing attention to the cool stuff that already exists. So, I propose a giant non-fandom friending meme (thanks,delight). If you would like find some new, interesting people to read, or make new friends, or just help highlight how much cool stuff there is on DW, please comment to this post.
You're welcome to say whatever you like, but here's a suggested template:
Your identity: doesn't have to be A/S/L, but anything that you think people should know about you to be able to decide whether they're likely to be interested in getting to know you.
What you are passionate about
How you use Dreamwidth
A link to a recent post of yours that is characteristic of your journal or writing style.
A link to a journal on Dreamwidth you think people might enjoy reading, even if they don't know the writer personally.
Footnote 1: Some people have moral or technical objections to Dreamwidth, or actively prefer LJ. That's totally cool with me – this post isn't addressed to you. I'm looking to involve people who would like to make the move, but are put off because there isn't enough to read or enough people to meet here. I am not at all proselytizing, in other words, just doing my bit to fix what I see as the biggest glaring problem with DW. Other people may see other problems, and I am not trying to fix those.
Footnote 2: If you are involved in fandom, you're extremely welcome to participate. Perhaps you'd like to meet someone who shares some of your less fannish interests. Or you are welcome to go and join in some of the more explicitly fandom-related activities going on instead.
I am going to post this now, rather than waiting until the official three-week fest, because I think now is while the iron is hot and people are motivated to move to a new site. But I'll link it again when the fest starts up on 26th April, around the one-year anniversary of Dreamwidth entering Open Beta. I don't have any strong opinions about the DW-only content thing, and you don't have to be participating in that to participate in this meme.
So, go forth and friend!
ETA: And if you like the idea, please link this post all over the place. Or make your own version, or whatever, but mainly spread the word as much as possible
Lots of people have realized that the best way to address this issue is, well, creating content. Some people are organizing collective efforts to create more content. This is a great idea, except for one small problem: the people who are really good at organizing and creating content are mainly fandom. I have nothing at all against fandom, but I'm not really part of it, and I think that a lot of other people who feel similarly are being put off because they see DW as yet another clubhouse for the cool fandom kids.
But I am going to take a leaf from fandom's book: I'm going to cease sitting around complaining about how DW is too quiet. Instead I'm going to participate in creating content and drawing attention to the cool stuff that already exists. So, I propose a giant non-fandom friending meme (thanks,
delight). If you would like find some new, interesting people to read, or make new friends, or just help highlight how much cool stuff there is on DW, please comment to this post.You're welcome to say whatever you like, but here's a suggested template:
Your identity: doesn't have to be A/S/L, but anything that you think people should know about you to be able to decide whether they're likely to be interested in getting to know you.
What you are passionate about
How you use Dreamwidth
A link to a recent post of yours that is characteristic of your journal or writing style.
A link to a journal on Dreamwidth you think people might enjoy reading, even if they don't know the writer personally.
Footnote 1: Some people have moral or technical objections to Dreamwidth, or actively prefer LJ. That's totally cool with me – this post isn't addressed to you. I'm looking to involve people who would like to make the move, but are put off because there isn't enough to read or enough people to meet here. I am not at all proselytizing, in other words, just doing my bit to fix what I see as the biggest glaring problem with DW. Other people may see other problems, and I am not trying to fix those.
Footnote 2: If you are involved in fandom, you're extremely welcome to participate. Perhaps you'd like to meet someone who shares some of your less fannish interests. Or you are welcome to go and join in some of the more explicitly fandom-related activities going on instead.
I am going to post this now, rather than waiting until the official three-week fest, because I think now is while the iron is hot and people are motivated to move to a new site. But I'll link it again when the fest starts up on 26th April, around the one-year anniversary of Dreamwidth entering Open Beta. I don't have any strong opinions about the DW-only content thing, and you don't have to be participating in that to participate in this meme.
So, go forth and friend!
ETA: And if you like the idea, please link this post all over the place. Or make your own version, or whatever, but mainly spread the word as much as possible
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 05:21 pm (UTC)Also, re rats... one of our late rats was called Glinda - so another good reason to add you. ;)
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 05:30 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 05:38 pm (UTC)What you are passionate about: Legalizing Marijuana, medical or otherwise. Treating people with kindness, most the time. Laughing a lot.
How you use Dreamwidth: Mostly a journal for ME (and a way to share with my friends). Lots of "here's what i did today" or "here's the current drama going on & the resolution, etc" that kinda stuff.
A link to a recent post of yours that is characteristic of your journal or writing style: Uhh.. I couldn't find any recent ones that *i* would call "characteristic", apparently i'm all over the place.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 05:42 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 05:44 pm (UTC)I'm a fellow Queer Theory studier (under Lit and women & gender studies).
I'm adding you :)
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 05:46 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 05:47 pm (UTC)I really like the idea of an alternate reality oasis, though :-)
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 05:50 pm (UTC)~Jen
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 05:51 pm (UTC)Stuff I like/write about: Well, to be fair, I do write a lot about fandom and fic, but the majority of my posting is about my day-to-day life. About web sites and my students, gardening and cats. My fandom posts also tend strongly toward the analytical, so anyone hopping on board should be prepared for a bunch of lit crit, basically. I am very feminist, politically liberal, philosophically republican (in the older sense), professionally academic, and frequently impatient.
How I post: Rather a lot. Not always daily, but several posts a week at least, sometimes several a day depending on my mood. My journal is a mixed outlet--it's my fic-release location but it's also my personal journal. I do offer subscription filters, so people can narrow down their reading experience if they want.
Some Recent Posts: why prescriptivist writing advice doesn't work and how not to brand your website.
Recommended:
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 05:53 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 06:00 pm (UTC)What you are passionate about: Women's rights, progressive Judaism, Irish fiddle music, beer.
How you use Dreamwidth: I crosspost everything to LJ and get far fewer comments here (which I am hoping to solve!); I read a lot of progressive blogs through the reader feed.
A link to a recent post of yours that is characteristic of your journal or writing style: Past 10 days -- I mostly talk about my life and things I like, but I'm not in any fandom really at the moment. Maybe London is a fandom!
A link to a journal on Dreamwidth you think people might enjoy reading, even if they don't know the writer personally:
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 06:11 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 06:14 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 06:22 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 06:29 pm (UTC)What you are passionate about: Everything, if it can hold my attention long enough. I believe in equal rights for all and being tolerant of others' choices. I love reading (anything), writing, art, photography and English grammar to an almost unhealthy degree. My dad raised me with Sci-Fi and I love Classic/Mullet rock more than anything. I love watching TV shows and movies, but right now my number one passion is the TV show Supernatural. I may also, on occasion, go off about design/coding/html things as well.
How you use Dreamwidth: I just made the 'big' move over from LJ because I realized how ridiculous it was to keep putting it off. I'll talk about anything and everything, including fannish things. All my fan stuff though, is posted at a separate community and any fannish ramblings are placed in a fannish filter. I want to start working more on my original stuff and really focus on setting up a good ESL/EFL study guide for non-native speakers.
A link to a recent post of yours that is characteristic of your journal or writing style: The only public entry I have at the moment is where I wrote about Dreamwidth here. My style depends on my mood and what I'm talking about. I can go from serious and scholarly to 13-year old girl in about 5 seconds flat.
A link to a journal on Dreamwidth you think people might enjoy reading, even if they don't know the writer personally: I don't really know anyone on Dreamwidth yet.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 06:34 pm (UTC)I think the same thing and love when I find others that do so as well. I like what you've said here and on your profile. I'd like to keep up with you.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 06:35 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 06:36 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 06:38 pm (UTC)I'm also joining that comm.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 06:39 pm (UTC)Don't worry about whether you want to be a lawyer or not. I got a JD never having had any intention of practicing and everyone thought I was crazy, but hey, it's a degree and it's experience in stuff like writing and research that you can't knock. Granted, it can be a little hard to convince employers that you're going to stick around and not run off to a law firm, lord knows I'm finding that trying to get a nonprofits job, but I think there are benefits to studying law for a bit. Good luck with your studies!
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 06:41 pm (UTC)It most definitely is! And don't worry, I don't always follow instructions well either. I'd like to add you, you sound like all kinds of cool.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 06:41 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 06:42 pm (UTC)What you are passionate about: Social justice; the complicated nature of religious belief and identity; unschooling; British social and cultural history; the British pop scene in the 60s; the Apollo program; classical music, especially twentieth-century; travel; writing fiction; 19th century British poetry; and I'm sure I'm forgetting things. My journal has a tendency to be taken over by whatever I'm currently obsessing about but I usually try to keep some balance!
How you use Dreamwidth: DW is my main social circle online. I still crosspost and read on LJ but I don't allow comments there. I wouldn't say that I post everyday, but probably more days than not. Very few of my posts are about my day-to-day life; I'm far more an ideas person.
A link to a recent post of yours that is characteristic of your journal or writing style:
Christianity?
Up Neon Valley streets
A link to a journal on Dreamwidth:
(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 06:42 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-03-16 06:45 pm (UTC)Also, interesting way of answering a meme, I like that.